Drones strike Russian-occupied Yenakiieve in Donetsk Oblast, sparking large-scale fire

Overnight on August 13, Ukraine's military reportedly launched a drone attack on Russia's Leningrad Oblast, damaging port infrastructure in Ust-Luga, according to regional Governor Alexander Drozdenko. Ust-Luga is one of Russia's largest ports on the Baltic Sea and a major hub for exporting crude oil and petroleum products. Situated west of St Petersburg, the port plays a crucial role in generating revenue for the state budget.

Drozdenko reported a fire at the port amidst the widespread drone attack on the region. Ukrainian officials claimed that 51 Ukrainian drones were downed over Leningrad Oblast, though the Kyiv Independent could not immediately verify these claims nor the target of the attack. Ust-Luga has been a frequent target of attacks by Ukraine in recent months, with the Ukrainian military conducting deep strikes against the port in March and April of this year.

The Ukrainian military has been successfully targeting Russian oil infrastructure, causing significant disruption to production at major facilities and halting operations in some cases for extended periods. This campaign has put pressure on the Kremlin by exacerbating a domestic fuel supply crisis in Russia, which has already led to export bans, price hikes, and sales restrictions across the country.

On the same day as the Ust-Luga attack, the governor of Russia's Orenburg Oblast reported that an oil refinery in the city of Orsk had completely halted processing following a recent Ukrainian drone strike. Repairs to the facility are expected to keep it out of operation for several months.